Eighteen high school seniors signed national letters of intent to play for Rice next season. According to Bailiff and two of his assistant coaches, the recruiting class was a home run.

"The academics standard is what makes this an easy university to recruit to," Bailiff said. "When we walk into a home, we're offering a scholarship that could change their lives. … What's perceived as an obstacle is actually one of the greatest things we have going at this university."

The Owls signed eight offensive players and 10 on defense. Bailiff said their biggest focus for this class was to get bigger on the interior of the offensive line. He believes they did that with the signing of Ridge Point's 341-pound Jack Greene and Baytown Lee's 376-pound Joseph Dill.

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It also was imperative, Bailiff said, that Rice get a strong group of defensive backs. The Owls got four, including Cypress Ridge teammates D'Angelo Ellis and Dasharm Newsome. Assistant head coach Darrell Patterson said Ellis stands out because of his great ball skills and ability to be physical at the line of scrimmage.

In a perfect world, Bailiff would redshirt every freshman. In 2013 when the Owls won the Conference USA championship, they were loaded with seniors, with plenty of them in their fifth year.

"We had to play a lot of freshmen this season," Bailiff said. "It's something I hope not to do.

"We're going to develop these guys. You win championships with large senior classes. It enhances your ability to win (games) when they're in their fifth year."

If there is one player who could contribute right away it is DeKaney wide receiver Aaron Cephus. At 6-5 and 188 pounds, Cephus is tall and long. He's also a strong basketball player with great athleticism.

Bailiff said Cephus' timing on his jumps reminds him of Jarret Dillard, who caught an NCAA career record 60 touchdown passes between 2005-08.

"It's one thing to be long and another thing to be able to jump," Rice co-offensive coordinator Billy Lynch said. "(Cephus') ability to have impeccable timing added to that gives us the opportunity to have a big-play guy who can stretch the field."

While most of the national signing day headlines go to college football's blue bloods and five-star and four-star recruits, Rice rarely brings in a class that makes national news.

The Owls always have had different standards. Bailiff is OK with that and is looking forward to making a different kind of news with the group that signed Wednesday.

"I really believe this bunch can win a conference championship," Bailiff said. "And with their transcripts, I believe we could have a 100 percent graduation rate with them."